--The families within the organizations might not like it, but the Magic will be back playing a nationally-televised game on Christmas Day for the first time since 2003, a sign that their popularity is returning. They will play the New Orleans Hornets, another team on the rise. The Magic also are scheduled this season to play on Thanksgiving Day, again on national television at Washington.
They were regulars for holiday games on national television during the Shaquille O'Neal era, which ended more than 10 years ago. In 2003, it was Tracy McGrady that made them popular, even when the team wasn't very good. --The Magic have some great influence in the Central Florida community. They are why a new downtown arena is being built. Yet they still can't get Bright House Network, the largest cable operator in the area, to come to terms with Fox Sports Network Florida, which will television almost half of their games. Fans in the area still are upset about the Magic selling their games to FSN and taking them off the over-the-air network.
--Much of the roster is expected to arrive the second week of September to begin working out together at the RDV Sportsplex, the Magic's practice site.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "This (gold medal) is a standard I'll bring to the Magic season. It's the gold standard." -- Magic C Dwight Howard, on his Olympic gold medal.
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